The Late Marty Duffy Tributes have been pouring in for the late Mr Marty Duffy, one of the county's most popular and respected GAA officials, who died suddenly. Aged 51, the late Mr. Duffy from Cabra, Rathlee is survived by his wife Josephine and two young children Claire (12) and Kieran (9) and by his mother Maggie. A life-long GAA activist who served diligently in a number of senior administrative positions at both club and county level, Mr. Duffy was also deeply involved in media work. As a former PRO of the County GAA Board and of his local Easkey Club, he was a regular contributor to "THE SLIGO CHAMPION" for more than 25 years. He was also the Tiereragh correspondent for The Sligo Champion for many years. The late Mr. Duffy was Assistant Secretary of the County GAA Board for the past 8 years. He was also Secretary of the West Divisional Board for 25 years and was a former Secretary of the Easkey club, where he also filled the role of PRO for several years. In his early life he had been a popular GAA referee. For many years, he represented Slig o at the GAA Annual Congress and at the annual Connacht Convention. It was in his onerous role as Secretary of the County Board's Activities Committee, which had responsibility for organising all adult GAA fixtures in the county, that Mr Duffy won widespread admiration. He was known as a meticulous administrator who was scrupulously fair in his dealings with disciplinary matters. In a tribute, County Board Secretary, Mr Tom Kilcoyne, described Mr Duffy as "a man of the highest integrity and a great friend". "Marty was always willing to help out and anything he turned his hand to was done meticulously. He never sought the limelight, but his work for the GAA in so many different roles was exemplary. "He was a man who always sought to do the right thing. He was a great man for resolving conflict and disagreement between clubs, and he was always concerned that there would be fair play. He treated all clubs fairly and equally. "The County Board and the wider GAA community are indebted to him and will miss him greatly", Mr Kilcoyne said. County Board Chairman, Mr Joe Queena, who travelled from their West Sligo base with Mr Duffy to GAA meetings for over 17 years, described him as "the prefect gentleman". "We had a great working relationship and we were also great friends. Marty's passing is a great shock to the GAA, but also to the local community which he served so well in so many different ways. "He was a remendous official, who was very quiet in his manner, but the work was always done. He was a perfect gentleman, who will be very badly missed". Apart from the GAA, Mr Duffy was involved in a wide range of other community activities in the Easkey area. He was a founder member of Macra na Feirme in the area, as well as being a lifelong member of the local branch of the Pioneers Total Abstinence Association, Community Games, Scor na nOg and all church activities and events were other areas to which he devoted full support. Mr Duffy was also an active member of the Rathlee Fianna Fail cumann. The monthly meeting of the County GAA Board was adjourned as a mark of respect to Mr Duffy. Mr Duffy's remains will be reposing at McGowan's funeral home, Ballina for removal to Star of the Sea Church, Rathlee. Requiem Mass with funeral afterwards to Roslea Cemetery. Courtesy of the Sligo Champion 5th October 2005 Tweet

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